Folding bed



NOV. 18, 1952 G. C, MlTCHELL 2,617,999

FOLDING BED iled June 20, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 2% I NVENTOR.

@L @D Vs CVV/ ref/4 L Nov. 18, 1952 A Filed June 20, 1949 G. c. MrrcHELL2,617,999

FOLDING BED 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Paten-ted Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE FOLDING BED Gladys C. Mitchell, Eugene, Greg. ApplicationJune 20, 1949, Serial No. 100,105

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a bed, and more particularly toa bed for aninfant.

The object of the invention is to provide a bed for an infant, the bedbeing strong, and light in weight, `and the bed being constructed sothat it can be folded into a compact parcel when not being used. Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a collapsible bed which has aflexible top or body member that can be removed easily when the bodymember is to be laundered.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bed which hashandles thereon to facilitate the carrying thereof, and which can bereadily used for other purposes besides a bed, such as for a table, orbassinet.

A further object of the invention is .to provide an infants foldingtable which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the courseof thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the collapsible bed for a baby,according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the bed with parts broken away, andshowing an attachment thereon when lthe device is to be used for otherpurposes; I Y

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the bed;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing the corner hinge for thestructure;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing the position of theparts of the hinge when the legs are folded; and

Figure 8 is an enlarger fragmentary elevational view, illustrating thehinge connection for the side and end members.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral I designates a framewhich includes a pair of spaced parallel side members II and I2. Theframe I9 further includes a pair of spaced parallel end members I3 andI4 which extend between the side members II and I2 and are connectedthereto.

For supporting the frame I0, a plurality of spaced parallel legs I areconnected to the frame, and the legs I5 are adapted to be folded orcollapsed inwardly when the bed is not being used so as to form acompact parcel, as for transporting the device in a vehicle.

For supporting a baby, a body member I6 is provided, and the body memberIG is preferably fabricated of a iieXible material, such as canvas orcloth. The upper edges of the body member I6 are folded over as at I1and secured .to the main portion of the body member I6, by suitablestitching so as to dene hems for receiving the side and end members ofthe frame. The corners of the body member I6 are cut away as at I8,Figure 2, and intermediate por-tions I9 of the body member are cut away,Figure 1, and these cut away portions serve to prevent the body memberI5 from becoming -entangled or binding the various hinge connections ofthe structure. Projecting through the body member I6 is a plurality ofhandles 20, whereby the bed can be carried manually to any desiredlocation. Further, the handles 20 can be used to help maintain the legsI5 immobile in their folded position.

Each of the side members II and I2, and each of .the end members I4 andI5 comprises a pair of sections which are pivotally connected together.These sections can thus be pivoted together so as to enable the bed tobe folded into a compact unit. A means is provided for pivotallyconnecting the sections together, and as this hinge means is the same inconstruction for each of the members II through I3, only one will bedescribed in detail. Thus, for example, the side member I2 includes apair of sections 2| and 22. Secured .to one end of each section 2| is ahinge unit 23 which is provided with a plurality of teeth 25 thereon.Secured to the other section 22 is a similar hinge unit 24 which has aplurality of teeth 2B .thereon that are adapted to mesh or coact withthe teeth 25. A threaded bolt 21 extends through the units 23 and 24,and a wing nut 28 is arranged in threaded engagement with the bolt 21for maintaining the parts in assembled relation. Thus, normally when thebed is being used, the units 23 and 24 are in the positions shown inFigures 1, 2, and 8. When the bed is to be :transported in a vehicle orthe like, the wing nut 2B is loosened on the bolt 21, so that the unitsfunction as hinges whereby the sections 2| and 22 can be pivotedtogether. It will be apparent that the other members II, I3 and I4 areprovided with similar pairs of sections which are pivotally connectedtogether by similar hinge units.

The bed is further provided with a plurality of corner castings 29 whichare hollow. All of the castings 29 have the same construction andtherefore it will suffice to describe only one in detail. The castings29 serve to connect the meeting ends of the side and end memberstogether, the castings 29 also provide a pivotal connection between theframe Il) and the legs I5. Each of the castings 29 includes a pair ofsocket portions 30 and 3l which are adapted to be connected to the endsof the side and end members of the frame. Referring to- Figures 6 and'7, itv will bevseen that each of the castings 29 is provided with aslot'32 in the bottom thereof. Secured to the upper end of each leg l isa post 33 which projects through the slot 32 and into the interior ofthe casting 29.

A pin 34 pivotally connects the post 33 to "the:

casting 29, the pin 34 passing throughra slot ,3 5in the post 33,Figures 6 and '7. The casing 33 is provided with a slot 37 in its upper.end, and the recess 3l is adapted to receive a pin 36 which, is,

a flexible support member 38 has its longitudinal side edges connectedto a pair of side strips d3 and 4I. A plurality of clamps l2 are securedto the strips G0 and 4| and the clamps 42 are adapted to embracinglyreceive the side members i l and I2.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that a bed hasbeen provided which canbe used for supporting an infant or baby therein. The various parts ofthe bed are collapsible so that the bed can be folded into a compactparcel wherein the device can be readily transported in a vehicle or thelike. Further, when the bed is being used, the various parts thereof areso constructed that they will be locked safely in extended position sothat accidental collapse of the bed will be prevented. Thus, tofoldy thebed into a compact unit, the wing nuts 28 are loosened whereupon thesections which comprise the end and side members may be pivotedtogether. Then, the post 33 of each leg is moved so that its slot 3T isout of engagement with the pin 33 whereupon the legs I5 can also bepivotally moved towards or contiguous to the parts of the fram-e.

The frame and legs are preferably fabricated of a specially treated woodso as to provide a bed which is strong and light in Weight. When the bedis folded, pockets are formed wherein babys blankets, diapers, and otheritems may be readily carried therein. When using the support member of39, the bed is converted to a table such as a dressing table forchanging the babys clothes. The device can. be used forgiving the baby asun bath and can be set up 'near the dinner table if desired. A

What I claim:

In a folding bed, a frame including a pair of spaced parallel sidemembers, a pair of spaced parallel end members extending between saidside members, a hollow casting for connecting said end members to saidside members, there being a slot in the. lower part of each of saidcastings, a plurality of legs for supporting said frame, each of saidlegs having a post eitending from its top end and projecting through theslot in one of said castings, each post havinga slot in and extendinglongitudinally thereof, a pin extending through the slot of each postand pivotally connecting the post to the adjacent casting, a securingelement fixed in the upper part of each casting above the slot therein,each post havingfa slot in the end thereof for receiving the adjacentsecuring element te lock the legs in a position in which they areperpendicular to the side and end members, each of said side and endmembers including a pair cf sections, means pivotally connecting saidpairs of sections together, said last named means comprising a hingeunit secured to each of the s ng ends of said sections, a plurality ofcooperating teeth arranged on each of said units, and means formaintaining the teeth of adjacent hinge units in engagement with eachother.

GLADYS C. MITCHELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 606,355 Moore June 28, 18981,173,459 Palmer Feb. 29, 1916 1,240,359 OReilly Sept. 18, 19171,827,687 McCandless Oct. 13, 1931 1,983,889 Anderson Dec. 11, 19342,254,939 Elias Sept. 2, 1941

